FleetTest

LIFE ON THE STREETS

It was 1984, Lubrizol, the prestigious speciality chemical
supplier, launched an ambitious testing program for its
additives and formulations. It involved finding a fleet whose
normal use exposed the cars to a wide range of stress. One
by one, the existing engines would be removed, and replaced
by factory new engines. Completing the tests, the fleet's new
engines would be removed and disassembled for inspection.

AMSOIL was invited to participate. The fleet chosen was
made up of New York City taxi cabs. Here was a pool of
automobiles subject to long periods of idling, strenuous bouts
with traffic and an occasional "follow that car!" or "get me to
the airport no matter what," accompanied by the full range of
weather and temperature variables. A classic choice in field
testing.

But there were other factors the testers couldn't anticipate.
Once the tests began, an astonishing rate of smashed and
disabled cabs emerged. The test fleet seemed to ricochet
through the New York streets like billiard balls. Added to this
was the Chevrolet 229 CID V-6, an engine in its last product
year and remembered fondly by mechanics everywhere for its
ability to produce income.

Like all field trials, real life testing would produce something
the laboratories never could. Unpredictability.

WELDING THE PLUGS

The AMSOIL test involved sixteen cabs divided into four
groups of four cabs each. The first four were controls. Using
the same petroleum oil and filters already in use by the fleet,
they would follow the existing fleet custom of changing oil
every 3,000 miles. They are identified as "Group A."

"Group B" used AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil with an
AMSOIL Oil filter. For Group B, the oil changed intervals was
doubled to 6,000 miles.

Using the same AMSOIL products as "Group B" the third
division of cars - "Group C" - quadrupled the control interval,
changing oil at 12,000 miles.

But "Group D" ran the ultimate test Using AMSOIL 10W-40
Synthetic Motor Oil and the AMSOIL By-pass filter (changing
the filter at 12,000-mile intervals), the taxis were "fitted for
life." No oil changes at all. In fact, the drain plugs were
welded to the pan.

The life of the test was 60,000 miles. Overall, the AMSOIL
test fleet accumulated nearly 3/4 million miles.

Take a look at more interesting data 409,000 miles without an
oil change. Although this is diesel, remember that gas engines
aren't as dirty or take as much abuse. Click here!

Here are the most recent comparison tests done between
leading brands of conventional and synthetic motor oil.
Click here!

INSIDE THE ENGINES

With the tests completed and the engines removed and
disassembled, there was no visible evidence that an
AMSOIL-filled engine without an oil change in 60,000 miles
was worse than a cab with 20 petroleum oil changes. A
systematic analysis of sludge, varnish, rust and wear showed
little variation between taxis with AMSOIL products and those
without, even though AMSOIL oil change intervals ranged
from double to twenty times the petroleum-filled engines.

In its written conclusions, the testing facility responsible for
compiling the test data made this observation:

"The data presented in this report indicates that AMSOIL
Synthetic SAE 10W-40 passenger car motor oil formulation as
described here provided protection of test engines from
excessive wear and deposits formation far beyond the
normal 3,000-mile change interval."

In a separate letter to AMSOIL Technical Director Mike
Cabotte, the testing facility diplomatically touched on the
problems caused by using the Chevrolet engine for testing,
while agreeing with the long-drain conclusions produced by
AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil;
"I believe the general conclusion that your 'four times normal
drain' engines appeared as clear as our mineral oil 'normal
drain' engines is testimonial to your oil, in spite of the
unanticipated severity of the General Motor 3.8 liter engine."

ADDING IT UP

In the end, the long, grueling test, so riddled with the
unpredictable events of real-life pointed to a product vastly
better than ordinary petroleum. It established base-line data
that supported AMSOIL recommended drain intervals of
25,000 miles or one year. It gave visible evidence of how
AMSOIL Synthetic Oil behaved in the worst of circumstances.
And it established the role of the company's synthetic
lubricants in the looming age of conservation and
environmental awareness.

For those who used their vehicles to make a living, it promised
a way to make the vehicle last longer, have fewer down time
hours for general maintenance, and a way to increase the
profitability of their business.